Chapter 1: First Steps into the Unknown
Ezren Veydrion stood in the dimly lit room, staring at the floating system panels before him. His mind had finally settled. The shock of his reincarnation, the absurdity of a system, the realization that this world was nothing like Earth—it all crashed into him like a tidal wave.
But the truth was clear now. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted answers, he had to use everything at his disposal.
The Shadow. The System. His new identity.
His hands clenched into fists as his gaze hardened. He had no time to waste.
Without hesitation, Ezren grabbed a long coat from a nearby chair and stepped out into the night.
---
2:30 AM – Streets of Velderin
The city was eerily silent. The cobbled roads stretched endlessly, illuminated only by flickering street lamps that cast elongated shadows along the empty streets. Tall buildings with archaic yet modern architecture loomed over him, their gothic spires clawing at the darkened sky.
The cold night air carried an unsettling stillness. It was a world of magic, beasts, and Awakeners—yet at this hour, it was as if the city itself was holding its breath.
Ezren walked with purpose.
Thankfully, he had inherited the memories of this body.
His name, his past, the places he knew—all of it had fused into his mind the moment he woke up. This city was called Velderin, one of many strongholds in this realm where humanity fought against the horrors that lurked beyond the walls.
And at the heart of it all stood the Awakener Association—the one place where he could begin his journey.
---
Awakener Association – Velderin Branch
Ezren stopped before a massive, multi-story building that towered over its surroundings. Its dark, reflective windows gave off a foreboding presence, and the crest of the Awakener Association—a symbol resembling a circle split into multiple fragments—was engraved into the steel entrance doors.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The interior was cold and professional, yet oddly empty at this hour. A single receptionist sat behind a sleek desk, scrolling through what looked like a translucent system panel. The faint hum of magic-infused lighting filled the otherwise silent hall.
The woman behind the desk looked up, raising a brow at his late-night arrival.
"Registration?" she asked in a bored tone.
"Yeah," Ezren replied. "I want to register as an Awakener-Hunter."
Without another word, she tapped on her system panel, and a glowing form appeared in front of him.
> [Awakener Registration Form]
Name: Ezren Veydrion
Age: [Pre-filled]
Date of Birth: [Pre-filled]
Affiliation: None
Awakened Ability: [Undisclosed]
Ezren quickly filled out the remaining fields. Fortunately, the system had already embedded his basic details. Whether it was because of his reincarnation or something else, he didn't question it.
As soon as he was done, the receptionist glanced at the form and nodded.
"Your request is submitted. Your Awakener-Hunter license will be ready in three days." She pushed a small metallic badge across the desk. "Take this. It'll serve as temporary identification."
Ezren took the badge and stared at it for a moment.
This was it. The first step into this new world.
But one question still burned in his mind.
"How do I level up?" he asked.
The receptionist gave him a blank look, as if he had just asked something obvious.
"You kill beasts and earn EXP," she said flatly. "Your system should handle the rest."
Ezren let out a small breath and nodded.
It was time to hunt.
Ezren stepped out of the Awakener Association, the cold night air greeting him as he glanced at the time. 3:45 AM. He had spent more than an hour inside, registering as an Awakener-Hunter.
The city remained eerily quiet, the streets empty, save for the occasional flickering of street lamps.
Ezren exhaled, his breath visible in the chilly air.
His first mission was clear—level up and survive. But he couldn't rush blindly. He needed to understand the world he had reincarnated into, to see firsthand how different it was from the Earth he once knew.
And so, he walked.
---
A World Both Familiar and Strange
The city of Velderin was both modern and archaic. It had towering buildings, neon-lit streets, and bustling commercial zones—a familiar sight to Earth's urban landscapes. But the differences were unmistakable.
Hotels, restaurants, shopping districts—everything looked the same, yet infused with a mystical presence.
Mana.
A subtle energy filled the air, invisible yet omnipresent. The moment Ezren focused on it, he could feel it—a gentle hum, like an unseen force flowing through everything.
Mana wasn't just energy; it dictated power, rank, and survival.
The strength of an Awakened-Hunter depended on:
1. Their Realm Affinity – The realm they were chosen by (Life, Death, Chaos, Void, etc.).
2. Their Class & Talents – Unlocked upon reaching level 10.
3. Their EXP & Battle Growth – Gained by slaying monsters.
4. The Equipment They Wielded – Enhanced by crystals extracted from defeated beasts.
Ezren's brows furrowed. He was an anomaly, not chosen by any known Realm. But if he could absorb and manipulate realms, what did that mean for his growth?
A question for another time.
As he turned a corner, he spotted a large guild building—one of the privately established hunter organizations.
---
Guilds: The Powerhouses of Hunters
Guilds operated separately from the Awakener Association. They functioned like corporations, gathering elite hunters to take on contracts.
Inside, hunters could accept missions—most commonly monster exterminations.
Missions provided:
EXP for leveling up.
Mana Crystals extracted from monster corpses.
Monster Materials like skins, bones, and cores, used to craft armor and weapons.
The stronger the monster, the denser and purer its crystal. The colors ranged from blue (low purity) to purple (rare) to gold (legendary).
Ezren eyed the building for a moment before walking past it. He wasn't strong enough to join a guild yet. First, he had to level up.
---
Returning Home
By the time he reached his house, dawn was breaking.
The three-story residence was elegant, reflecting the wealth of the body's original owner. However, his parents were abroad, leaving only his younger sister, a seventeen-year-old high schooler, living in a hostel with her friends.
Ezren sighed as fragmented memories surfaced—they had been good siblings.
He shook off the thoughts and thoroughly checked the house. Everything was in order.
In his study room, he rummaged through the drawers, finding his school ID, academic reports, and other mundane documents.
He ignored them.
Instead, he focused on the bank cards resting on the desk.
He grabbed his phone, stuffed it into his pocket, and left for the nearest bank.
---
Aetherium Crystals: The Currency of Power
Ezren sat in a private booth inside the bank, checking his account balance.
[Account Balance: 270,000 Purple Aetherium Crystals]
His lips curled into a smirk.
Aetherium Crystals were the currency of this world—mana-infused money with magical potency.
They existed in three forms:
Blue Aetherium Crystals (lowest value, most common)
Purple Aetherium Crystals (mid-tier, rare and powerful)
Golden Aetherium Crystals (highest value, legendary rarity)
1,000 Blue = 1 Purple
1,000 Purple = 1 Gold
Not just currency, these crystals stored and channeled magical energy, making them crucial for hunters and craftsmen.
Ezren left the bank with a decision made—he needed equipment.
---
The Armory & The Familiar Beast
Walking through the marketplace, Ezren's eyes landed on a hunter's shop—"Mystic Fang Armory."
He stepped inside, immediately greeted by an unusual sight—
A white fox with cyan tattoos sitting on the counter, its sharp blue eyes locked onto him.
Ezren froze.
The creature was exuding mana, its presence unnatural.
Just as his instincts kicked in, a voice called out.
"Relax, it's just a Familiar," said a burly man behind the counter.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged hunter with a rugged face and battle-worn armor, gave Ezren a smirk.
"Never seen a Familiar Beast before?"
Ezren glanced at the fox again. Familiars were magical creatures bound to humans through a Soul Contract, forged by the system itself. They assisted in battle, tracking, and support.
The fox flicked its tail, yawning.
Ezren turned his attention back to the shopkeeper.
"I need equipment," he said. "Something decent for a first-time hunter."
The shopkeeper nodded and led him to the displays.
---
Weapon & Armor Selection
Ezren examined the available gear.
B-Rank Dagger – A well-crafted blade with mana-conducting properties.
Armor Set – White and gold-plated, sturdy yet flexible.
Healing Potions (x3) – Essential for injuries.
He made his purchase.
[Total Cost: 127,000 Blue Aetherium Crystals]
Ezren also bought a Hunting Map for 1,200 Blue Crystals—his guide to hunting zones.
Equipped and prepared, he stepped into the unknown.
---
The Hunting Grounds
Ezren arrived at the designated hunting zone marked on the map.
It was a massive forest, divided into three layers:
1. Outer Zone – Mostly cleared, rare weak monsters.
2. Inner Zone – Home to monsters below C-Rank.
3. Core Zone – Dangerous, with C to A-Rank monsters.
Occasionally, an S-Rank monster would appear in the Core—a disaster-level threat.
Ezren observed the scene.
Dozens of hunters had gathered, forming teams.
Hunting in groups was safer than going solo, but Ezren preferred to work alone.
A random team invited him, but he declined.
Silently, he moved toward the Inner Zone.
---
A Sudden Turn of Events
Ezren walked cautiously through the forest. His dagger was ready, his senses heightened.
The environment was eerily quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
Rustling.
The sound of rapid footsteps.
Ezren turned sharply, his grip tightening.
And what he saw next shocked him.
A bloodied hunter… running straight toward him.
Behind him, something massive emerged from the shadows.
And with that, his first battle had begun.